Phil Neville attacked the declining standards of behaviour among modern-day players in the week his former club Manchester United were embroiled in controversy following their Christmas party.

Neville, who spent more than a decade at United before joining Everton, claimed players have to be more aware of their responsibilities as role models and said they only have themselves to blame for their negative press.

In the week United player Jonny Evans was questioned over an alleged rape at United's first-team party and more unseemly revelations of the night emerged, Neville called on his fellow professionals to act more responsibly.

"Eighty to 90 per cent of footballers handle themselves with dignity and in the right way," said Neville. "But it's a small minority that are letting us down, and the vast amounts of money we earn means we have a lot of responsibility and are there to be shot at.

"If going out for a drink then you have to make sure you are going to the right places and behave in the right way. We need to look after ourselves a lot better, both on and off the pitch.

"For young kids coming through, it is only right for them to look at us as examples.

Having a go at referees, and the language used by today's players, is not acceptable. Maybe that's where we need to improve."

Neville, who came through the ranks at United with brother Gary, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, claimed today's young Premier League players are pampered and have no grasp of how privileged they are.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was strict with them in the mid-1990s, ensuring they never became involved in unsavoury off-field incidents which could damage their image and the reputation of United.

Neville claimed that too many young footballers nowadays believe their own hype and have an inflated view of their own importance.

"Too much is coming too soon to these players. There isn't that toughness that I had when I was an apprentice," he said.